Category: All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship

The 2018 All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship Awards Ceremony took place in the Scarecrow Village on Sunday 5th August, kindly sponsored by St Canices Credit Union. For the first time ever we had Joint Overall Winners with the top prize shared between “Scarecrow Electric Picnic” by Durrow Men Most Actively Seeking Retirement and “The Pope Mobile” by the Conahy Vintage Club.

Fantastic work from both groups indeed.

All the other results are as follow …

General/Open

1st – “Daniel and the Den of Lions” by The Faith Mission Summer Camp2nd – “Peter’s Borough in Durrow” by Dove House3rd – “Spiderstraw” by Ellis Family

The 2018 All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship Awards Ceremony The All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship Awards Ceremony will take place in the Scarecrow Village from 4.30-5pm on Sunday 5th August. This is the culmination of the festival and marks the unveiling of this year’s overall winner and the winners of the various other categories. The first prize is sponsored by St Canices Credit Union in Durrow – a big thank you to them, it really helps and is greatly appreciated.

We cant wait to see who wins the various categories and who the overall winner will be – this is a great reward for all the hard work, creativity and effort that goes into each and every one of the entries. We know what you do, and you do it so well, Well done to all!

The Overall Winner in 2017 was “The Greatest Show on Earth” produced by Conahy Vintage Group. A fantastic piece of work, can anyone topple them to take their place on the Roll of Honour?

Congratulations to Conahy Vintage Club, who have won this year’s All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship, with their stunning creation “King Kong”.

The monstrous installation has wowed the crowds at Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2017, and has ensured that for the 3rd year in succession, Conahy Vintage Club, claim the prestigious All-Ireland title. The results were announced shortly after 4pm today, and though nothing is ever a given when the judges come to deliberate, there was little surprise, and much joy when King Kong emerged as the overall winner!

From all at Durrow Scarecrow Festival, we extend to Conahy Vintage Club, both our gratitude for such an amazing entry, and of course our utmost congratulations for your well deserved success! King Kong has thrilled and fascinated both young and old, during the festival, and was always the crowd favourite and a very worthy winner!

Let the celebrations begin!

We will list all winners from all categories as soon as possible, but for now, one more time – Congratulations to Conahy Vintage Club, and the amazing King Kong!

Well, there was no surprise, and indeed no argument when Conahy Vintage Club and their amazing creation “King Kong” won this year’s All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship, for the third year in succession.

In 2016 they won with Noah’s Ark and 2015 saw their amazing Dinosaur creation take the prize! The big question is – can anyone rise to the feat of challenging Conahy Vintage Club for the title next year?

A giant section of King Kong being prepared for transportation.

I spoke with club member Michael Bergin, on the night their victory was announced, and he admitted that the Conahy team would relish the prospect! He told me how just a few weeks before the festival, a rumour had reached them, that they had a serious contender to deal with, as a rival group were working on another massive installation. It never actually transpired, but he said the prospect that it might have, spurred them on, to ensure that King Kong, would be as ‘good as it could be’.

That same section being prepared for transportation.

That is not to say that they did not feel threatened by some of this year’s other entries, as he admitted the level of creativeness just gets better year by year.

The frame for King Kong’s head, which was made by Shem Kavanagh.

And speaking of creativeness, King Kong was simply stunning. The monster itself was constructed at a ‘secret location’ by the group who possess and combine a wide range of talents, which culminate in their wonderful installations. I was told that the biggest problem the team faced was not during the making of Kong, but in moving him by road, from their base to the festival site in Durrow. In the end it took a Garda escort to safely shepherd the convoy of gorilla sections into town, and for nine days King Kong graced Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2017, and wowed the huge crowds that attended.

King Kong’s head which was made by Shem Kavanagh, now has it’s teeth added, and is ready for transportation to Durrow. Kong was to suffer a dental accident at this point, but the broken tooth was quickly repaired.

The Conahy Vintage Club convoy awaiting their Garda escort to the 2017 Durrow Scarecrow Festival.

THE DURROW SCARECROW festival finished up yesterday. For one week only, the village in Laois was covered with various scarecrow creations from people all over the country and it looked like serious craic. They were all absolutely brilliant. This massive King Kong by Conahy Vintage Club took the main prize, and it’s pretty impressive! DailyEdge.ie

Erecting the huge installation in Durrow.JOB DONE! Members of Conahy Vintage Club proudly stand in the shadow of their creation King Kong.Members of Conahy Vintage Club visit Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2017.Conahy Vintage Club with the All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship Winner’s TrophyKing Kong in situ.Celebrations ensued at Bob’s Bar Durrow, and why not?

So once again well done to all at Conahy Vintage Club, and we really cannot wait to see what next year brings!!!!!

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